Bellerin pens new Gunners deal

Hector Bellerin has signed a six-year contract with Arsenal, who may now turn their attentions to persuading Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to commit to the club.

The Gunners announced Bellerin had signed a "long-term contract" which it is understood will run for six years.

The 21-year-old Spain right-back's impressive performances had seen him linked with moves to former club Barcelona and Manchester City in recent weeks.

And the futures of Germany playmaker Ozil and Chile forward Sanchez will now be further in the spotlight.

Both are in the penultimate season of their current deals, which expire in June 2018.

So too are England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and France striker Olivier Giroud, while Germany defender Per Mertesacker's existing contract expires at the end of this season.

Bellerin is currently out with an ankle injury, but the news comes as a boost ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash with Paris St Germain. The Gunners and PSG are already through to the last 16 and the winners of the Emirates fixture will secure top spot.